Because I work with some people with some ‘special needs’, I am looking for the patron saint of people with learning disabilities and learning difficulties. Saint Joseph of Cupertino is a good candidate; Saint John Vianney, Saint Bernadette and the Venerable Solanus Casey are also thought to have been a little slow on the scholastic side…. according to this article. But people can’t be sliced up to fit social policy categories – many people have several various ‘special needs’: Saint Giles, Abbot, is patron saint of people with physical disabilities, Saint Dymphna the patron saint of those with mental health problems.